Palace of Versailles

Visiting every one of the palace's rooms would take days. With less time, a Versailles highlights guided tour is the best option. Options range from skip-the-line tours to private and small-group history tours. Combo tours which visit Versailles alongside the Eiffel Tower and Louvre (or the village of Giverny) are great for first-time visitors.

However you visit, don’t miss the gold-framed windows in the Hall of Mirrors, the priceless antique furniture in the King’s Grand Chambers, and the regal Royal Chapel. Meanwhile, in the gardens, the Grand Canal dominates while musical fountains dance to classical music.

• The site is incredibly popular—book skip-the-line Palace of Versailles tickets to save time.

• Most Palace of Versailles tours from Paris include hotel pickup and drop-off.

• Select a tour that combines round-trip transport with an audio guide for a self-guided experience.

• The palace and trianons are wheel-chair accessible. As are the English and French Gardens.

The palace is in the small township of Versailles, France, 13 miles (21 kilometers) outside of Paris. It’s easy to reach by train: Catch RER C from Paris to Versailles Rive Gauche station, only a 10-minute walk from the palace. You can take the SNCF train to Versailles Chantiers or Versailles Rive Droite stations.

Enjoy free admission on the first Sunday of every month from November to March. The Musical Fountains in the gardens are most magical at night. Visit the gardens on Saturday evenings between June and September to see a special musical fountain show crowned with fireworks.

While the Palace of Versailles is undeniably the main draw in the tiny town of Versailles, there's lots more to see and do. The decadent Musée Lambinet is a must, while the Versailles market is one of the largest in France. The Versailles Cathedral also makes for some great photos. Meanwhile, on the Versailles estate itself, don't miss the Hameau de la Reine, a tranquil spot overlooked by many.

You’ll need at least three hours to get a feel for the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. But it’s worth devoting an entire day to explore at a relaxed pace. For lunch, bring a picnic or grab something to eat at one of the many food and drink outlets.

Visit the Palace of Versailles on Wednesdays and Thursdays to avoid crowds. The palace closes on Mondays, which leads a lot of early-week visitors to come on Tuesdays. Fridays attract pre-weekend crowds.

The best time to arrive at the Palace of Versailles is as soon as it opens in the morning, when it’s the least crowded. If you only want to spend a couple of hours there, arrive later in the afternoon, when the majority of the people have gone.

The Palace of Versailles is open from morning until early evening November to March and stays open an hour later between April and October. The gardens, park, and Estate of Trianon also stay open later during the high season.

Yes, you can bring backpacks of a certain size into the Palace of Versailles. The maximum bag size allowed is 21.65 x 13.75 x 7.75 inches (55 x 35 x 20 centimeters). If your bag is larger, you’ll have to leave it in one of the free lockers in the South Ministers’ Wing.

The Palace of Versailles, Estate of Trianon, and Gardens of Versailles close on Mondays and select public holidays. The surrounding park is open daily throughout the year. Note that the palace sometimes closes in severe weather.